Valuation Services
Discover the true market value of your educational institution with our comprehensive analysis.
Beyond the Multiple
Most brokers rely on simple EBITDA multipliers. We go deeper. Our proprietary valuation model accounts for licensing capacity, real estate assets, curriculum quality, and local demographic trends to uncover hidden value.
Request Confidential ValuationWhat We Analyze
- Financial Performance (EBITDA)
- Enrollment & Utilization Rates
- Real Estate & Facility Condition
- Staff Retention & Tenure
- Market Demographics & Competition
SDE vs. EBITDA: Which Applies to Your Center?
SDE — Seller’s Discretionary Earnings
Net income + owner compensation + depreciation + one-time add-backs. Used for single-owner-operated centers. The most common valuation basis for centers under $1M in revenue.
EBITDA — Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization
Used for larger centers and multi-site portfolios where professional management is already in place. Institutional buyers and private equity firms underwrite exclusively to EBITDA multiples.
Market Rule of Thumb
Price Per Licensed Child Capacity
A useful market sanity check: childcare businesses in the current market often trade in the range of $1,500 to $4,000 per licensed child capacity — depending on real estate, profitability, market, and enrollment.
This is a rule of thumb, not a substitute for a formal SDE/EBITDA-based valuation. The actual multiple depends heavily on owner-dependency, enrollment as a percent of capacity, license status, lease terms, and market conditions.